She couldn’t hold it in anymore. Cecilia shut off her phone and silently let the tears run down her face.

It struck her like a bombshell—Marcus’s heart had never truly belonged to her. Not even once.

Slowly, she wiped away her tears and tried to compose herself. The message on her phone had come from an unknown sender.

Her trembling hand moved to her belly.

She couldn’t have his child.

And she certainly couldn’t deal with the child he had with someone else.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed a number.

“Cecilia? Hey.”

“Randy, can you fit in an extra surgery for me at the hospital tomorrow morning?”

“Sure. What kind? I’ll check with the chief doctor for you.”

“…An abortion.”

The next day, Cecilia went to the hospital alone.

Last night, after Marcus left, Cecilia received only one message from him.

“I won’t be back tonight. I drank too much. I’ll go straight to the office tomorrow morning and come home tonight.”

But the man who claimed he’d be at work was actually here at the hospital.

Marcus appeared on the maternity ward floor, holding Lucy in his arms.

A small crowd had gathered nearby. Cecilia saw Marcus shielding Lucy in a corner. His commanding presence looked exactly like it had all those years ago—when he used to protect her.

Lucy looked up at Marcus and smiled.

“Marcus, I’m fine. It’s just a maternity ward. Don’t worry.”

His voice was low, restrained. “I told you to go to a private hospital, but you insisted on coming here. What’s so special about this place?”

Lucy lowered her gaze, her expression dimming.

“Marcus, I’m just a housekeeper’s daughter. I’m plain and ordinary. I can’t compare to someone like Ms. Summer. Besides, public hospitals cost less. I don’t want to waste your money.”

Marcus’s sharp profile softened with a mixture of tenderness and pain.

“Cecilia only cares about owning the most expensive, one-of-a-kind things. One of her handbags alone could cover ten years of your salary. She’s never understood what truly matters.”

As he spoke, Marcus wrapped his arms around Lucy and kissed her hair.

Meanwhile, Cecilia stood rigid nearby, wearing a coat, hat, and mask. Her entire body felt cold.

How ironic that word was—‘understood.’

She remembered how Marcus had transferred all his company shares to her right before their wedding.

He had told her then, “Cecilia, I’ll only buy you the best and newest things. You’re my princess. You deserve to be spoiled.”

She also remembered something he had said casually that day.

“Woodsville Estate was my parents’ home. You’ll stay there when you give birth. I’ve already had a ring made from the green diamond at the Manelie auction—your wedding ring.”

Her eyelashes trembled as tears instantly blurred her vision.

That green diamond had come from Manelie.

And she had been the one pestering Marcus to buy it.

Because it was one of a kind.

She had wanted it so badly back then.

Marcus and Lucy's conversation brought me back to reality.

“Does Ms. Summer like the bag I picked out?” Lucy asked.

“Of course she does. My dear Lucy spent three hours choosing it. You did well.”

Lucy gently caressed her belly, her face shadowed with pain.

“Marcus, Ms. Summer will be the adopted mother of my child. Of course I’ll try to make her happy. Don’t worry.”

Hearing that, Marcus’s expression darkened with emotion.

“Lucy, I’m grateful you’re giving me this child. Only with this baby can I secure my position in the company. Everything I have will belong to my child.”

Cecilia found the entire conversation absurd.

So he arranged for Lucy to get pregnant…

Just because she had always wanted a child?

Was that the reason he cheated?

Slowly, she walked toward the operating room.

As she changed into her surgical gown, her phone buzzed.

Marcus was calling.

She answered.

“Cecilia, are you awake? Are you still mad?

“I’ve just sent you roses. They’ll be delivered to the villa soon. And breakfast from St. Antony’s—your favorite.

“You really want a child that much? I’ll find one at an orphanage. If there’s a suitable baby, maybe we can adopt. In a year or so, I’ll make you a mother.”

“No,” she said quietly. “I don’t want a child anymore.”

Not her own.

And she would never accept a child he had with another woman.

His voice softened slightly.

“Cecilia, be good. You’re my treasure. Our seventh anniversary is in three days. I’ve prepared a surprise for you.”

Cecilia ended the call.

She had a surprise prepared for Marcus as well.

Lying on the cold operating table, she closed her eyes and waited for what would come next.

Cecilia’s senior, Randy Henderson, suddenly appeared.

“Cecilia, if you lose this baby, you probably won’t be able to have children in the future. Have you thought about that?” he asked gently.

She blinked away her tears and nodded. “I’ve made my decision, Randy.”

This baby had been the most precious gift she had prepared for Marcus for their seventh wedding anniversary.

But he didn’t want it. From the very beginning, he had been trying to stop it.

She wasn’t going to give him what he didn't want.

Cold medical instruments pierced her body, sending sharp pain shooting through her abdomen.

And just like that, the last connection between her and Marcus was cut.

She never expected that when she woke up after the surgery, the first message she would see would be from an unfamiliar number—forwarding the location of a bridal boutique.

Still weak and aching, she forced herself into a car and headed there.

As soon as she arrived, she saw Marcus and Lucy standing outside.

Marcus was holding Lucy in his arms, looking helpless.

“Lucy, you’re my wife. I can’t give you a proper wedding, but at least I want you to wear a wedding dress once.”

“Marcus, I’m worried I’ll just be a burden. This must cost a lot too.”

Marcus gently tapped Lucy’s nose, smiling at her with obvious affection.

“You silly girl. I may not be able to give you an official title, but I’ll do my best to make sure you’re happy.”

Sitting in the car, Cecilia listened to Marcus sweet-talk Lucy, her chest tightening with pain.

Wife?

Lucy was his wife.

Then what was she?

He wanted Lucy to be happy.

But what about her?

Watching him whisper tender words to Lucy felt like reliving her own past with him over and over again.

At that moment, Cecilia finally realized something.

She didn’t regret losing the baby.

Because Marcus didn’t deserve to be the father of her child.

When they got married, they had chosen their wedding dress right here at this shop.

Luxury cars had lined both sides of the street.

Their friends stepped out of the cars.

She overheard their conversation.

“Marcus is planning a surprise for his wife tonight. There’s going to be a small ceremony at the shop.”

“Isn’t he worried Cecilia might find out?”

“They say she’s infertile. Marcus even told everyone their marriage license isn’t real.”

“Keep your voice down. Cecilia is still precious to him. This whole thing is just to make Lucy feel special. Besides, she’s the one carrying his child.”

Cecilia’s blood ran cold.

So everyone she had grown up with already knew Marcus had betrayed her.

She had opened this bridal boutique herself back in college, simply out of boredom. Every gown in the store had been designed by her.

Only the shop manager knew she was the owner.

After everyone went inside, she quietly slipped in through the back door.

She hid in a dark corner on the third floor and watched Marcus, dressed in a white suit, and Lucy, wearing a pure white wedding gown.

That gown had been inspired by their very first fight.

Back then, Marcus had been furious when Lucas Paterson brought her a birthday gift.

In the university classroom, he had pinned her against the blackboard and kissed her fiercely.

That had been their first kiss.

Later that night, with the bittersweet memory of that first kiss still lingering, she designed a wedding dress.

She named it ‘First Love’.

Now Marcus and Lucy stood together on the stage.

All the friends she had grown up with were gathered below, clapping, cheering, and offering their congratulations.

“Marcus, your bride looks beautiful.”

“Congratulations, Marcus. Time to exchange rings.”

She watched as Marcus took out a ring box.

He opened it.

From where she stood, Cecilia could see clearly.

The rings inside were identical to the wedding bands she and Marcus wore.

Marcus’s ring was still the same classic men’s band.

And Lucy’s matched Cecilia’s exactly.

Even the rings had become a set of three.

Suddenly, the lights snapped on with a loud click.

Every stage light went dark—

Except for a single spotlight shining directly down on her from above.

The moment Marcus saw Cecilia, his eyes darkened.

Without another word, he abandoned Lucy and rushed up to the third floor, his eyes blazing. Everyone watched as his entire body trembled, his face drained of color. He was shaking so badly that when he reached Cecilia, he pulled her into his arms as if afraid she might collapse.

“Cecilia, listen to me,” he said hoarsely. “This was just a scene for a short film. Don’t get the wrong idea. You know I designed this ring myself. You don’t like being in front of the camera, and Lucy’s hands look a lot like yours. I wanted to surprise you. Once the footage is edited, the whole city will see it as an advertisement.”

His trembling hands hurriedly slid the ring onto Cecilia’s ring finger.

But she immediately felt it was wrong.

The ring didn’t fit.

That wasn’t her size.

Downstairs, Lucy’s face had gone pale. Tears welled in her eyes as she stared helplessly at Cecilia and Marcus.

Marcus’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“Miss Garnett, my wife is angry. You should explain yourself. If you don’t, you won’t need to come back to work at the Leedon Group.”

Lucy’s voice trembled, humble and subdued.

“Ms. Summer… this wedding was only for the commercial shoot. I was the planner. The campaign is for Mr. Leedon, and it will be broadcast across the city three days from now—on your anniversary.”

Marcus smiled charmingly and wrapped his arms around Cecilia.

“See, Cecilia? Everything I did was for you. I’ve always done everything for you. I love you, and that will never change. Cecilia, you’re the love of my life.”

Every word Marcus spoke sounded like a vow Cecilia had trusted for twenty-seven years.

She had never doubted his love.

Yet now she suddenly realized something.

Even after betraying her, Marcus could still declare his love in front of everyone as if nothing had happened—still gentle, still affectionate.

Lucy froze when she heard those words.

Only then did she seem to understand something.

Tears streamed down her face as she forced out a trembling smile.

“Ms. Summer… I wish you and Mr. Leedon a lifetime of happiness… growing old together… and having children.”

The words **having children** pierced Cecilia’s heart like a blade.

She looked toward Lucy.

Lucy was crying so hard her entire body shook. Then she turned and ran without looking back.

Marcus shouted after her, his voice raw with desperation.

“Lucy!”

Then he lost all composure and sprinted downstairs after her.

Cecilia watched him push through the crowd, chasing after Lucy.

In the next instant, a car screeched to a halt.

With a violent crash, it slammed into Lucy and sent her flying.

Cecilia stood frozen on the roadside as Marcus’s anguished scream tore through the air.

“Lucy! No!”

He lunged forward and caught Lucy before she hit the ground.

Everyone saw what happened next.

Lucy struggled to throw herself into Marcus’s arms, shielding him with her body.

In that instant, her fragile body took the second impact of the car.

There was a deafening crash.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Lucy kept coughing up blood, crimson pouring from her mouth. The ground beneath her was quickly soaked red.

Marcus collapsed to his knees, trembling as he held her, tears filling his eyes.

“Lucy, stay with me. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”

Blood streamed from Lucy’s lips as she weakly whispered, “Baby… Marcus… save our baby… please…”

Cecilia saw Marcus slowly raise his head.

His eyes were bloodshot as they locked onto hers.

“I told you, Cecilia,” he snarled through clenched teeth. “Lucy and I never had anything. I told you it was just a scene. Why won’t you believe me? Why did you have to drive her and our child to death just to be satisfied?”

In that moment, Cecilia saw pure hatred flicker in Marcus’s eyes.

The crowd began murmuring.

Donovan Mendes spoke first, his voice cold.

“Cecilia, Marcus loves you so much. Even though he had to marry Lucy because of his grandfather’s arrangement, he still sent her abroad for nearly seven years—for your sake.”

Others quickly joined in.

“Exactly. Marcus was only protecting you. That’s why he let Lucy film the commercial today. He didn’t want you getting tired.”

“Cecilia, you’re being too harsh. Lucy just loves Marcus. She’s never asked for anything in return. Such a kind girl… how can you be so unforgiving and leave her with no place at all?”

Their words were filled with accusation and judgment.